Indian



'( Nb Model.)

G. SOUTHARD.

ENVELOPE.

No.- 536,821. Patented Apr. 2, 1895# e BCO.,

l I? John R.Ros,

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UNITEDy STATES PATENT, QEErCE.

GEORGE soUTHARD, OE INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ENVELOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.` 536,821, dated April 2, 1895.

Application filed October 8,1894. Serial No. 525,254. (No model.)

dianapolis,in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelopes, of which the following is a specication.

The object of my said invention is to provide an envelope capable of repeated use, and yet capable of being sealed during each use.

As is well known, there are many users of envelopes who transmit papers regularly back and forth between different branches of the same businessA Themost conspicuous example of such use is what is known as railroad service, where the agents and officers of a railroad areconstantly sending papers to each other, many of which are bulky and require envelopes of thick, strong, heavy paper. Such envelopes are very expensive, if a single use is to terminate their capability of service; but if a means can be devised whereby they can be used many times, or until destroyed by ordinary wear, they become, on the contrary,very inexpensive considering the service rendered. I have devised a plan by which such large heavy expensive envelopes can be cheaply sealed at each use, and continually reused, with only the loss of a light cheap sealing strip. Such an envelope embodying my invention will be first fully described and the novel features thereof then in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, `and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l represents such an envelope sealed up and ready for transmission. Fig. 2 illustrates such an envelope open and ready to receive its contents. Fig. 3. shows the sealing strip separately. Fig. 4 is a sectional pointed out view illustrating the envelope and sealing folded over, and the flap thus doubled at this point, making it stronger than it otherwise would be, but obviously this is not essential to myinvention. In using this envelope, the matter to be transported is iirst inserted therein and the flap folded down to about the position shown in Fig. 4, when the narrow end b of the sealing strip B is inserted in the slit o., and said sealing strip is then bent at the point of junction between its narrower and wider portions, which is, when fully in place, at the point of said slit o, and said sealing strip is then bent downwardly around the lower edge' of the envelope, and brought over the upper edge, and the whole pressed together and sealed, as shown in Fig. 5,-the extreme end of the sealing strip being preferably ready gummed for that purpose.

When it is desired to open the envelope, the sealing strip is torn in two and thrown away,

Ywhile the envelope itself is not injured, and

is ready for further use.

The sealing strip itself is shown as a plain piece of paper of uniform Width the greater portion of its length, but narrower for a short distance at one end, the narrow end being designed to enter the slit ain the flap of the envelope, and thus hold the strip securely .againstv slipping off the envelope when the latter is sealed. lhis varying width construction is of considerable utility, as, when used, the slit a does not need to be so wide as itotherwise would, while the shoulders formed between the narrower and wider portions of the strip come against thesurface of the Iiap, and thus bring the strip to the desired position, so that when folded and sealed the address will be exposed at the point required; but obviously the strip might be made of the uniform width, and the slit extended,

Without departing from my invention, alf- Ioo will be the same as that required heretofore for the envelopes themselves. These beingr mere slips of cheap paper,0f course the total expense is much reduced.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with an envelope having a slit in its flap, of a strip B adapted to bear an address and to inelose the envelope, one end of said strip when in place on the envelope being loosely inserted in said slit, whereby the strip is prevented from being slipped olf the envelope, and the other end brought around past the slit and sealed upon that portion with which it there eomes in oontact, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, withan envelope havinf;r a slit in its flap, of a sealing strip B one end whereof is adapted to be inserted in said slit, the remainder of said strip then being folded in the reverse direction and wound around the envelope and sealed onto itself, the inserted and folded portion thus forming a secure means for preventing the removal of the strip except the seal is broken and the strip destroyed, at'ter which the entire strip is easily removed, enabling a new one to be inserted in its place, substantially as and for the purposes set; forth.

The combination with an envelope having a slit to receive the end of a temporary renewable sealing strip, of such sealing,r strip having a narrow end adapted to enter said slit, the shoulders between the narrow and wide portions ot' the strip thus determining the distance the same shall enter, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 3d day of October, A. D. 1894.

GEORGE SOUTI-IARD.

Tit nessesz,

JOSEPH E. LUDLUM, JAMES A. WALSH. 

